Arkansas breds continue to be featured this weekend at Oaklawn, as older sprinters will go in the Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes. Navy Seal won this race last year and he’s back to try to defend his title. First post for this 10 race program this afternoon will be 12:30 PM (CST). Just a heads up that I will be headed out of town tomorrow afternoon, and it’s unlikely that I’m going to have time to put together a write up for the Sunday card. The weather could change things up, but most likely the next post in this space will be for the Thursday program.
I’ll be covering this exciting meet on the ITM Blog, along with posting some updates and thoughts from time to time on Twitter @EricSolomon718. Feel free to reach out!
| Race | Top Pick | A | B | C | Exotics Menu |
| 1 | 8 | 8 | 4 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 2 | 5 | 5,4 | 2 | 2B | DBL, PK3, PK4 |
| 3 | 3 | 3,7 | 8 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 4 | 1 | 1,10,7 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | ||
| 5 | 2 | 2,7 | 10 | DBL, PK3, PK6 | |
| 6 | 7 | 7 | 8.9 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 7 | 1 | 1,3,9 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | ||
| 8 | 4 | 4,3 | 8 | DBL, $3 PK3 | |
| 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | $5 DBL | |
| 10 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
Race 1:
The day starts off with a maiden optional claiming race for three year olds sprinting six furlongs. Horses that have RNA or were sold for $75K or less are eligible to compete without risking being claimed. Both Special Ops (#4) and Camino (#5) are running with the $75K claiming tag. I think General Graham (#8) is an interesting case here. He’s the lone first starter, shipping here from the Fair Grounds for Eddie Kenneally. He’s the lone horse in the field that was nominated for the Triple Crown, and while that $600 investment is not a big number in the grand scheme of things, I don’t think the connections would pay that money in January for a horse that has yet to start unless the horse was showing them something in the mornings. He has been working well in New Orleans and the purse of this race is higher than the maiden special weight races there. The dam was best known for running her heart out to be second to Rachel Alexandra in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She was third in the Kentucky Oaks that year, but she did finish 24 lengths behind her. One of her five foals to make it to the track won on debut and while Kenneally doesn’t have great numbers with firsters, he’s certainly capable of having them ready. If they think this a stakes quality horse that might be able to sniff a Derby prep race sooner than later, he needs to get started, so perhaps this was the best spot. He could have stayed home today to face older horses for a purse that is $11K less than this one, so I get the decision to ship. Special Ops (#4) also comes in from New Orleans and he’s coming off a race where he finished a distant third behind a pair that dueled home in a fast time. His pedigree tells me that he might be more effective at one turn, so it was curious that he started his career in three, two-turn races. Perhaps he doesn’t have true sprinter speed, and a middle distance race might be more in his wheelhouse. However, if he can run back to his last race at this distance, I think he can be formidable here.
Race 2:
We have eight betting interests but 10 horses entered in this $12,500 N2L claiming race going 1 1 1/16 miles. Wind Rider (#5) is the pick here, coming back to two turns for Chris Hartman. His first two races during this meet came seven days apart and neither of those efforts were great. He was a little more competitive in the race at this level though, as opposed to the tougher group he faced in his last start. Since that race he was gelded and the blinkers will come off for his first two turn race on a traditional dirt surface. He ran very well when going 10 furlongs on the Tapeta at Turfway in allowance company last year and his two turn efforts on the turf prior to that weren’t bad. He hasn’t been in a great form, but this looks a good spot for him to turn things around. Heavenly Deacon (#4) has a lot of clunkers in his running lines, but his trending up over his last two starts. He was in the thick of things at long odds at this level last out, but he couldn’t keep pace with the race winner and Promissione (#3) late. While he’ll have to deal with that gelding once again today, I’m not convinced that his rival is going to be able to back up that effort. This Midnight Storm gelding broke his maiden at Canterbury five starts ago and then had two disastrous efforts before righting the ship. He’ll need to continue to progress, but I do think at longer odds, he’s worth considering. I’ll back up with Classically (#2), who is running as a coupled entry with Tis Charming (#2B). While I prefer Classically, I do like the contrasting style between the two runners. They’re trained by Asmussen, so getting two of his horses for the price of one ensures the lack of proper value. Classically is making his second start off the layoff and could wind up being a part of a slow early tempo.
Race 3:
State bred fillies and mares will travel six furlongs in a $25K N2L claiming race. Not For Everyone (#3) drops back to a more appropriate level after jumping up to face $75K N2L claimers here two weeks ago. She was sharp two back when making her first start off the layoff to easily dispose of a state bred $20K maiden claiming group. The mile trip might have been too much too soon last out, so between the class relief and cutback in distance, I like her chances. Ramon Vazquez has been red hot this week, already visiting the Winner’s Circle four times. He’ll get the return call for Terry Brennan today. Texas Sequoia (#7) is the low ceiling, high floor kind of horse that often can be tough in these races. She’s a five year old mare that runs decent races. Her speed figures are typically a little better than just about everyone in this race. If no one steps up, it’s likely that she’s going to find herself right in the thick of things. She is making her third start off the layoff and Cristian Torres has ridden her well in her first two starts of the meet. On deeper tickets, I’ll give a look to Maximum to Excel (#8). She night be one race away from showing her best stuff. She was in contention early before tiring late when facing a similar group in December. That was her first start since the end of April, but it looked like she didn’t lose too much in terms of fitness. The January hiatus kept her away from the track a little longer than her trainer, Timothy Martin, might have liked. I do think she’s at the right level of competition though.
Race 4:
The Mid-Card Pick 4 starts with an $8K N1Y claiming race going one mile. It’s been tough sledding for Khozy My Boy (#1) in his last two starts. He’s had wide draws and has had to cover extra ground in those races. Drawing the rail in a large field isn’t always ideal, however, I do think this one runs better when he’s closer to the pace. Dropping into time restricted company while running for the same $8K tag should serve him well. Global Empire (#10) has a few nice races strung together now, including a game third place finish last out when facing time restricted $12,500 claimers in the slop. He cuts back from nine to eight furlongs and should be back on a fast course, which is what he prefers. Hoodlum (#7) has been facing open company, but he recently qualified for this condition, since his last win came at the end of August and this race was written for horses who have not won a race since September 21st. He has not been as sharp here as he was in Illinois and his lack of early speed can be troubling at times. He still holds a class edge as this could easily be a “get right” kind of race.
Race 5:
Three year old fillies will go six furlongs in a $24K maiden claiming race. Engagement (#2) showed nothing in her first two starts early on as a two year old. She changed barns and she’s been working well enough for her first start since June. She’ll get significant class relief as she comes back to the dirt after running last in a five furlong sprint on the turf in open maiden special weight company. Her new trainer, Armando Hernandez, has great numbers with new acquisitions, and this filly isn’t going to have to be Wonder Woman to win this race. What’s The Tea (#7) drops in class after struggling in a maiden auction race last out on the Tapeta at Turfway. Rodolphe Brisset does well dropping horses in for a tag and also getting blinkers for the first time. On deeper tickets, I’ll look for a better effort from Divine Celina (#10) in her second local start. She ran two weeks ago in a $30K maiden claimer here where she was sent off at 6-1. She was wearing blinkers for the first time and she lugged out badly after the break. She settled in third while the front-runner threw down the gauntlet. She faded late as the horse she was battling within second continued to grind by and catch the leader late. Some horses don’t like the blinkers and since she had better efforts prior to that last start, I’d be willing to give her another look here.
Race 6:
The Late Pick-4 begins with a $24K N3L claiming race going one mile. It can be hard to clear conditions in consecutive races, but I do think Brilliant Man (#7) is well-spotted to do just that today. He was in over his head in the Claiming Crown Classic two starts back where he also had to navigate Post 13. He closed some ground late, but really had nowhere to go behind a wall of horses in the stretch. He made of ton of sense on the drop in class when coming here two weeks ago, and he was a rather easy winner in that $12,500-$10,000 N2L claiming race. For as good of a trainer Steve Asmussen is, he doesn’t have elite numbers with his runners first of the claim lately, however, I like the fit for this gelding in this race. Calycanthus (#8) is the wild card in this race. He’s had 13 career starts , all of which have come on turf or synthetic. He started off in the Pletcher barn and was moved to Rusty Arnold in the fall. He was purchased in an auction for $22K last month, so this spot feels like an appropriate race to try the dirt for the first time. Jade Cunningham takes over the training and she’s already tallied three winners at this meet, including the win with Brilliant Man. If he takes to the local course, he could be a threat. Barricade (#9)is the morning line favorite who is coming off a strong effort with beaten $40K-$35K claimers at the end of December. He blew the break, but was still good enough to close wide to get up for second. Peter Miller has had a strong meet, but I do worry about whether or not this course can put two big efforts together consecutively.
Race 7:
Fillies and mares will go six furlongs in a $20K N1Y claiming race that kicks off the Late Pick-4. Austrian Navy (#1) was a consistent starter allowance horse that was based in Northern California prior to racing at Golden Gate Fields shutting down. She had a second act to her career, most of which came running in Ohio. She has run well on this course in the past when she has been well placed. She’s been in over her head for his five losses. She’s making his second start of the meet and she is getting class relief at this level. I think she’s a candidate to upset this field. Armando Hernandez has been red hot lately with the horses that he’s bringing back first off the claim. He reached in to claim Icy River (#3) for $10K at Remington in her last start, so this is a step up the class ladder for her. She fired a bullet workout here nine days ago, which perhaps gave Hernandez the confidence to spot her here. She does have a win over this course, which is encouraging. She’ll need to take a little step forward, but that’s seemingly what Hernandez has been able to get these horses to do. I’ll also include the favorite, Bolt on the Rocks (#9) on the A line. She gets an outside draw one start removed from drawing the rail in a 12 horse field. She kept finding in that race, but she had to settle for third when facing better. She drops in class for this race. I’m not sure this is her best distance, but I do think she’ll contend with this group.
Race 8: The $150K Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes:
After Haulkin Ice became the first Arkansas millionaire in the Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes yesterday, it’ll be interesting to see what the boys can do for an encore today. Bohemian Bo (#3) narrowly held off Navy Seal (#4) in a state bred allowance race where both runners were making their first starts of the meet. Navy Seal came back two weeks later to face open company in an overnight stakes race where he finished 4th. Bohemian Bo is making his first start since that race and he finds a field where there’s no one that can really go with him early. Early speed is the name of his game as there have only been six times in his 22 race career where he hasn’t been on the lead at the first point of call. The only one of those six races that was a win was his very first start back in 2023 in a maiden allowance race at Sam Houston. Barring any kind of bad start, he should have no trouble securing that spot here. On the down side, he’s never won in consecutive starts. He had everything his own way in this race last year until he fell apart late. The horse that holds the key to this race in my opinion is Touchdown Arkansas (#8). He’s been excellent in three of his five career starts and awful in the other two. He came up with a big effort to narrowly miss with state bred N2X company in his last start, He wheels back in two weeks and with his outside draw, he’s going to be the one that is going to have to keep Bohemian Bo honest. If Arrieta can make an aggressive move to head the favorite, I think that will set the table for Navy Seal. If Bohemian Bo can get away with a moderate first three furlongs, I think he’ll be able to spurt clear and hold the field off late. I’ll lean toward the first scenario, making Navy Seal the top pick. I’m not sure if Touchdown Arkansas is ready to tackle these two runners yet. I’ll use him as a backup, because I do think he’s going to have a chance.
Race 9:
We saw the first Ratings Handicap carded here earlier in the month and this race will be the first one that is carded for fillies and mares. 11 ladies will go six furlongs in the penultimate race of the day. Titled Lady (#8) has won her last four starts when running with race day Lasix. She was never a threat in the Bugler Overnight Stakes where Lasix was not on the table. She was very good in her two prior starts in claiming company, easily winning both of those races here and at Churchill. There were two races in the spring where Lasix was not administered and again, she ran poorly. Prior to that, she beat a pair of nice allowance fields on this course, clearing the N1X and N2X conditions. Tracy Tanner claimed her two back, and this feels like a much more logical spot for her. It’s a tricky proposition for this mare since she’s out of allowance conditions for the most part (since it’s very rare to find a N3X or a N4X race), but she clearly can’t compete at a high level without Lasix. From her recent history, I think it’s fair to assume that the better version of her will show up today. Luis Saez was in the saddle when she crushed a beaten claiming field here two back and he’s back in the irons today. She’s one of my strongest opinions on the card. I’ll use Liuzza (#11) as a backup in this race. Toss her last start on the turf at the Fair Grounds. She was a sharp winner with N1X company here two back in her only career start on this course. Luis Saez rode her that day, so it’s a little telling to me that he;’s taking the mount on the top pick. However, this mare has some ability and her outside draw is favorable.
Race 10:
We’ll wrap things up with a $10K N2Y claiming race for older horses going 1 1/16 miles. Excel Calculator (#5) has had outside posts in his last few starts when facing significantly better competition. He was farther behind than I think he would have liked to have been and that certainly made his task more difficult. Drawing in the middle of the pack should allow him to be in a better position early on in this race. Cristian Torres gets the assignment for the first time and I think he can put this gelding over the top. Eastside Cool (#11) drops back to the claiming ranks after struggling in a starter allowance race at nine furlongs in his last start. He was very sharp at this level two starts ago when he overcame starting from post 12. He has 8 wins in 21 career tries on this course.
2025-26 Meet Statistics
Top Pick Winners: 44/225 (19.6%, $332.80 $1.48 ROI)
